Arsenal have received a significant injury boost ahead of the Champions League final after Mikel Merino returned to full training this week.
The Spain international has been sidelined since January with a foot injury, but he was back on the grass during Arsenal’s latest open training session ahead of next weekend’s showdown with Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest.
Merino’s return was warmly welcomed by his teammates, who formed a tunnel for the midfielder as he rejoined the group following months on the sidelines.
The 29-year-old has endured a frustrating second half of the campaign after initially becoming an important figure in Mikel Arteta’s midfield setup earlier in the season.
His return now offers Arsenal another experienced option ahead of the biggest European game in the club’s recent history.
Arteta may still choose to carefully manage Merino’s workload over the coming days, especially with Arsenal already confirmed as Premier League champions before Sunday’s final league game against Crystal Palace.
The Gunners sealed their first league title in 22 years earlier this week after Manchester City failed to beat Bournemouth.
While Merino’s return provided a major positive, Arsenal were still without several key names during parts of Thursday’s session.
Bukayo Saka, David Raya and William Saliba were not involved with the main outdoor group as they followed individual programmes indoors.
However, there is understood to be no concern surrounding the trio, with Arsenal simply managing workloads ahead of the Champions League final.
Jurrien Timber was again absent from first-team training as he continues his recovery from a groin issue that has already disrupted multiple comeback attempts.
The Dutch defender has not featured since March and remains a major doubt for the final against PSG.
Timber’s absence has become even more significant following Ben White’s season-ending knee injury earlier this month.
That situation has forced Arteta into reshuffling his defensive options during the closing weeks of Arsenal’s title-winning campaign.
Cristhian Mosquera has stepped up impressively at right-back in recent matches, while Declan Rice has also filled the role when required.
Teenage prospect Max Dowman was another notable absentee from training, although his absence is reportedly linked to ongoing school examinations rather than injury concerns.
Despite the lingering issues in defence, Arsenal’s mood around the training ground remains extremely positive following the club’s title celebrations earlier this week.
Attention is now fully turning towards Budapest, where Arteta’s side will attempt to complete a remarkable season by winning the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.
